On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, Archbishop Apostolos of Canada celebrated the Service of the Blessing of the Waters for the beginning of the new academic year at the Patriarchal Orthodox Theological Academy of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada.
Bishop Athenagoras of Patara, Director of the Academy, participated in the service. Faculty members and students were also present, together with the President of the National Philoptochos of the Archdiocese.
Archbishop Apostolos offered his paternal wishes to the students for a blessed and fruitful academic year. He emphasized that theological education is not simply the acquisition of knowledge. It is a journey of faith, spiritual formation, and preparation for service to the Church.
“I pray that this new academic year will be filled with the grace and illumination of God. May you advance in knowledge while growing in faith, humility, and love. Theological knowledge becomes truly fruitful when it is accompanied by prayer and transformed into service to the Church and to our fellow human beings.”
Archbishop Apostolos also referred with respect and gratitude to his predecessor, His Eminence Archbishop Sotirios, former Archbishop of Canada, who founded and supported the Theological Academy for many years. His Eminence expressed his commitment to continuing and strengthening its mission so that it may remain a place of theological education, ecclesiastical formation, and preparation for future service in the Church.
In closing, Archbishop Apostolos thanked Bishop Athenagoras and the faculty for their ministry and dedicated service. He offered his prayers for the entire academic community, wishing everyone health, strength, and the abundant blessing of God throughout the new academic year.
